A small cache of weapons, including six semi-automatic rifles, a grenade launcher, a rocket launcher and material that appears to be plastic explosives were recovered along the Rio Grande River in Texas by the Border Patrol Tuesday, according to Reuters.
This revelation comes less than 18 hours after CBS News reported that at least three murders in Mexico have now been tied to weapons linked to Operation Fast and Furious, the discredited gun trafficking sting mounted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and this column reported a by-the-book ATF arrest in Texas that did not allow any guns to get into the wrong hands.
The new weapons discovery in Texas may present a problem for those trying to blame lax gun laws, firearms retailers and even gun shows for being the source of weapons headed south to Mexican drug cartels. While semi-auto rifles are sold in gun shops and at gun shows, one would be hard-pressed to find vendors selling grenade or rocket launchers, or plastic explosives – apparently C-4 – which are not found on retail shelves or gun show tables.
Inside the bag were six assault rifles, a grenade launcher, a rocket launcher, 20 ammunition magazines for various-sized weapons and three packages of what appeared to be C-4 plastic explosives, a Border Patrol news release said.—Reuters
The Border Patrol believes the weapons were headed south to arm Mexican gangsters. While firearms are used by cartel killers, Reuters noted in its report that:
Mexican drug gangs frequently rely on grenades and assault rifles in an escalating battle between rival drug smugglers and against law enforcement.
More than 42,000 people have died in Mexican drug wars since late 2006, when President Felipe Calderon declared war on drug traffickers.--Reuters
An image of the recovered firearms shows at least three to be built on AR-type platforms and at least one to be an AK-type rifle. While the Border Patrol is speculating about the destination of the weapons, there is no speculation about killing so far linked to Fast and Furious guns. The CBS report details them, along with five other violent crimes linked to guns that were allegedly allowed to “walk” across the border under the ATF program.
It is likely that these are not the only crimes that are, or will be, linked to an estimated 2,000 guns that were allowed to enter the illegal gun pipeline during the Fast and Furious investigation that ended abruptly with the slaying of Border Patrol agent Brian Terry. Two guns recovered at the scene were linked early to Fast and Furious. A third gun apparently was also recovered but its existence may have been concealed by the FBI, as this column noted.
According to a letter from U.S. Assistant Attorney General Ronald Weich to Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) and Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), the disclosed incidents may be only a partial list of violent crimes linked to Fast and Furious weapons because "ATF has not conducted a comprehensive independent investigation."—CBS News
MEANWHILE, Democrat Gov. John Lynch of New Hampshire revealed Thursday that he will not seek another term. The announcement comes less than 24 hours after the Republican-controlled Legislature finished voting to override his veto of expanded self-defense legislation.
The new law will allow armed citizens to use lethal force against a potentially lethal attack in public places where they have a right to be. It also offers protection from lawsuits for defending one’s self.
As a result, SB 88 will take effect in about 60 days. The lopsided votes – the Senate voted last week 17-7 and yesterday the House voted 251-111 – may have been the political last straw for Lynch, whose veto had been overridden before, on the issue of abortions for pregnant minors. Lynch’s critics have argued that he is out of touch with New Hampshire voters.
Opponents of the self-defense legislation included law enforcement officials and gun prohibition lobbying groups. The Bellevue-based Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms applauded the vote.
“The right of a citizen to defend himself or herself, or their families from violent attack is sacrosanct in this country,” said CCRKBA Chairman Alan Gottlieb. “That right does not, and should not, end abruptly on the front porch of someone’s home, but cover situations that could erupt in any public place where a citizen has a right to be.”
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